The Portland Trail Blazers now have their own D-League franchise, setting up a single-affiliation relationship with the Idaho Stampede. The Blazers previously shared the team with the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. Here's the release.
The Idaho Stampede and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers announced today that the two teams have entered into a single affiliation partnership beginning with the 2012-13 season. The Trail Blazers will be the Stampede's sole NBA affiliate and will have control over theteam's basketball operations.
In a model similar to other minor leagues, this partnership, also referred to as the "hybrid affiliation," allows for NBA teams to secure control over and cover the expenses related to the basketball operations of an NBA D-League team, while partnering with existing ownership, which maintains responsibility for the team's off-the-court business operations.
"The partnership with Portland is another large step toward the Idaho Stampede becoming more involved with the NBA and one of its premier teams in the Trail Blazers," said Stampede Managing Investor Bill Ilett. "It will add to the experience on and off the court for our community and basketball fans throughout the Treasure Valley."
The arrangement allows the Trail Blazers to assume full control over all coaching and player personnel decisions to further enhance the player development process.
"This investment in the development of our young players will pay dividends on the court and we're excited about working with the Stampede," said Trail Blazers President Larry Miller. "The hybrid partnership is closer in structure to minor league baseball with a parent club and affiliate relationship, so we feel this is an arrangement that will help us utilize the D-League system more effectively."
The Trail Blazers become the fourth NBA team to form a hybrid partnership with a D-League team, joining Houston, Brooklyn and New York. Six other NBA teams - San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Golden State, Cleveland, Dallas and the L.A. Lakers - own and operate their own D-League clubs.
"In establishing this exciting relationship with the Idaho Stampede, the Trail Blazers become the record 10th NBA team to acquire an exclusive 'one-to-one' relationship with their NBA Development League affiliate next season," said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. "Having one-third of NBA teams invested in their NBA D-League affiliates is a strong testament to our league's ability to help NBA teams find and develop top talent."
The Trail Blazers have been affiliated with the Boise-based Stampede since 2007, sharing affiliation last season with Utah and Denver.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter